We need our Eds right for this one
ROSS CO v PARTICK Ryan: Basement crunch is no place for bottlers
RYAN EDWARDS admits Partick Thistle are in Premiership peril because they’ve bottled it too often.
And the Australian midfielder insists they’d better show some backbone in Dingwall tonight because jobs will be under threat if Jags go down.
The stakes couldn’t be higher with a win sending them six points clear of Ross County and one off 10th-placed Dundee.
Alternatively defeat would leave the Firhill club bottom of the pile with only six games left.
Edwards, 24, said: “Mentally, throughout the whole season we needed to be better.
“Physically and tactically we’ve been fine. But mentally we haven’t been as good as we had been. That’s shown in the results, how late we’ve conceded goals and how deep we’ve gone in games.
“Our first-half performances compared to our second-half ones have been massively different. The Ross County game will be about who’s mentally stronger. Both teams know whoever scores first is going to land the first punch.
“It’s really important to make sure it’s us. It’s our biggest game of the season. Every match has been important but you come to this, a bottom-of-the-table clash, and if we win we can pull ourselves further away from Ross County.
“If they win we will go bottom and it makes it really difficult. Hopefully we can get the three points then try to catch Dundee.
“It has to weigh on our minds that people’s livelihoods are at stake. It’s really important to play for the people who work for this club every day as well as for ourselves.
“As players we want to be in the Premiership next season.
“We need to do the best we can in a playing sense but also to keep people in their jobs.
“The mood hasn’t changed. We’ve always had a positive mindset – it’s just the results haven’t been there this season.
“Any time we have a bad result we come back in on the Monday or Tuesday, pick ourselves up and go again.
“It has been a season of fine margins and we need to turn these margins our way.
“If we can win this game it can be the catalyst for a strong end to the season. You look at Kilmarnock and they went on a nine-game unbeaten run to get into the top six.
“We look at our remaining seven matches and to get a level of consistency, performances and results are going to be massive.”
Jags boss Alan Archibald reckons his side are owed a break after Danny Devine’s goal was ruled out for offside in Saturday’s 2-0 loss at Hibs. Ref Andrew Dallas chopped off what would have been the opener after his linesman flagged Miles Storey offside.
Archibald said: “Our players were told one thing by the ref and the linesman told a couple of our coaching staff something different.
“There’s no doubt it should have been a goal but we have to get on with it.
“You’re as well focusing on things you can affect. You hope these things will even themselves out and we can catch a break over the next few games. Last year when we made the top six we got the rub of the green. One thing we can affect is defending for the goals we gave away.”
Archibald has a big decision on whether to risk keeper Tomas Cerny who has a rib muscle injury.
He said: “There is a chance we could lose him longer term if we do play him. It is a big call and one for myself and the medical team. He is a big player for us but thankfully Ryan Scully came on against Hibs and did very well.”
TEAMSHEET
ANDREW DAVIES is banned after the Ross County skipper’s red for his crunching tackle on Celtic’s Scott Brown at the weekend.
Keeper Aaron McCarey faces a late fitness check along with Ross Draper, Davis Keillor-Dunn and Tim Chow. But Greg Tansey, Chris Eagles (both groin) and Sean Kelly are out.
Thistle are without suspended Danny Devine and Stuart Bannigan (knee) while goalie Tomas Cerny (rib) will be assessed.